The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

After entering the twelfth lunar month, the number of public banquets and gatherings in the capital increased sharply, and it was like this every year.

Before the official closing time, drunken officials or scholars could be seen on the streets.

Today, the cabinet and the court held a gathering of Suzhou fellows in Beijing, and the chief minister Shen Shixing attended the gathering.

But the protagonist of today's fellow townsman gathering was not the chief minister Shen, but the former Minister of Rites Xu Xianqing who had just been dismissed from office.

Just last month, a large number of censors, including Yunnan Dao Yushi Wan Ce and Jiangxi Dao Yushi Lin Kecheng, impeached Xu Xianqing like crazy, attacking Xu Xianqing for excluding colleagues, colluding with wealthy businessmen, flattering eunuchs, misbehaving, and accepting bribes.

In the end, Xu Xianqing was forced to retire, which was actually dismissal.

In the eyes of everyone, Xu Xianqing was really unlucky, encountering such a disaster when the New Year was approaching.

Because the canal was frozen, he had to stay in the capital temporarily for the New Year, which was as embarrassing as it could be.

In the heart of Shen Shoufu, it was a pity that his fellow townsman Xu Xianqing was dismissed.

Because Xu Xianqing was also from the Hanyuan, he was the first in the selection, he had edited the records, and he had been a lecturer, and his qualifications were very good.

He finally got the position of Minister of Rites, which was only one step away from being a minister or entering the cabinet, but in the end, all his efforts of more than 20 years of practice were wasted.

In Shen Shoufu's political planning and layout, Xu Xianqing was a very important role.

Shen Shoufu originally wanted Xu Xianqing to take over the position of Yang Wei, the old official of the Ministry of Personnel, in the future, but now it can only be said that it was a waste of thought.

Thinking of this, Shen Shoufu sighed deeply. It's okay for you, Xu Xianqing, to exclude colleagues, collude with wealthy businessmen, behave improperly, and accept bribes, but how can you be caught flattering eunuchs?

At today's party, Xu Xianqing drank the most.

Seeing Xu Xianqing drinking himself to death in depression, a fellow villager from Suzhou said indignantly:

"Those censors are just bullies! Our Lin Jiuyuan has done all these things, such as ostracizing colleagues, colluding with wealthy businessmen, misbehaving, and accepting bribes. Do they dare to impeach Lin Jiuyuan?"

Drunk Xu Xianqing put down his wine glass immediately when he heard the three words "Lin Jiuyuan", looked up and shouted: "I was dismissed from office, it's all Lin Jiuyuan's fault!"

Most people who don't quite understand the truth are confused. Are you really drunk, Xu Xianqing? Lin Jiuyuan is still in Suzhou, can he take the blame for you?

Prime Minister Shen immediately rebuked him softly, "Don't say anything that is not conducive to unity!"

Xu Xianqing said, "In early October, Lin Tailai hosted a literary conference in Suzhou and formed a new literary alliance, labeling Shen Li, Zhao Yongxian, Sun Jigao and others as a "literary traitor group", which led to Zhao Yongxian and the Qingliu forces being completely tied together!

So the Qingliu forces must fight back and regain their lost face! At the same time, they have to help Zhao Yongxian seek the position of Minister of Rites, and I became a victim, this is one of them!"

Someone tried to smooth things over and said, "This can't be entirely blamed on Lin Jiuyuan, right? You can't let Lin Jiuyuan do nothing, right?"

Xu Xianqing said again, "I was... When I was attacked, the cabinet elders could have submitted petitions to save me.

Even though Shen and Wang were both from Suzhou, so they had to avoid suspicion and were not convenient to speak, they could entrust it to the second assistant, Xu according to convention.

In the past, Shen and Xu often cooperated and covered each other in this way.

But this year, because of Lin Jiuyuan's manipulation of the Yangzhou salt industry, a rift arose between Xu and Shen.

So when I was attacked, Xu stood by and watched, resulting in no one in the cabinet submitting petitions to save me! "

The hall was originally quite lively, but when everyone heard Xu Xianqing say this, there was a brief silence. After all, it involved the interpersonal relationships at the highest level of the cabinet, which was more sensitive.

Anyone who knows a little bit about the inside story knows that Xu Xianqing is not wrong.

Most of the current Yangzhou salt merchants are from Huizhou, and Xu is from Huizhou, and he received funding from fellow merchants in the imperial examination.

Therefore, the Yangzhou salt industry has always been tacitly accepted as Xu's sphere of influence, and others will not compete with Xu.

But in recent years, Lin Tailai has been constantly infiltrating the Yangzhou salt industry, especially this year, he established the system of merchants and formed the salt industry association, allowing Lin Tailai to achieve great control over the Yangzhou salt industry.

But the nature of these actions is equivalent to constantly encroaching on the sphere of influence of Xu Ge Lao.

Xu Ge Lao must be very dissatisfied with this, and he must have expressed dissatisfaction and protest to Shen Shoufu.

But Shen Shoufu could not give up his support for Lin Tailai, nor did he force Lin Tailai to spit out the salt industry, so the rift was created.

In the past few years, Shen Shoufu and Xu Ge Lao, the second assistant, were still very cooperative, jointly fighting against the "three red men" and the Qingliu forces, but this year the two were obviously alienated.

So when Xu Xianqing was besieged frantically, Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue were not convenient to speak, Wang Jiaping originally supported the Qingliu forces, and Xu Cifu stood aside, then Xu Xianqing was hopeless.

Prime Minister Shen put down his wine cup and slowly said to Xu Xianqing: "These words were told to you by others, right?

Have you never thought about why others told you these words?"

Xu Xianqing was drunk and retorted: "No matter what the purpose is, are these inside stories true?"

Prime Minister Shen looked at Xu Xianqing deeply and advised: "If you think so, I suggest you don't live in Suzhou after you go back."

Just as Xu Xianqing was about to say something, Shen Yongmao, a Langguan of the Ministry of War, stood up and said, "Senior Xu, don't blame others too much. I know that you and Lin Jiuyuan have a personal grudge.

A year ago, Lin Jiuyuan supported Zhao Zhigao as the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, blocking your way; and Lin Jiuyuan's large-scale expansion in Suzhou's weaving industry also made you very dissatisfied. After all, your Xu family is a large weaving industry owner and a member of the Weaving Industry Office. Big steward.

However, the younger generation still believes that we should not let personal grudges blind our minds and ignore the root of the problem. "

Some outsiders who were invited to attend and were not familiar with Lin Tailai were shocked again when they heard this. Who is this Lin Jiuyuan?

Just now we can learn from a few words that Lin Jiuyuan controlled the literary world, then controlled the Yangzhou salt industry, and also ran the Suzhou textile industry. How much energy does one person have to engage in so many businesses at the same time?

After the party broke up, Shen Shoufu and his son returned home together.

Due to his status, Shen Shoufu couldn't say a lot publicly, or if he said it to others, he could only vent a few words in front of his own son.

"When Xu Xianqing said those words just now, I was too embarrassed to refute!

I think about it, this year I am like a free worker for Lin Tailai! "

Uncle Shen Yongmaoshen comforted him and said, "Father, you are serious! Didn't you just help Lin Jiuyuan arrange for a Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a governor of the Xuanfu, two common people, a foreign minister of the Literary Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, two directors of the Ministry of Etiquette, A prefect of Songjiang Prefecture?

In addition, it is just to escort the reform of the Yangzhou salt industry and the dredging project of the old lower reaches of the Wusong River. "

Shen Shixing sighed: "But in order to appease Yang Wei, the official, I don't have many of my own people!

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Moreover, even Xu Guo, who has been working together for many years, is now parting ways. Doesn't this look like paying Lin Tailai's own money to work in vain?

Sometimes I just can't understand, how could things become like this? "

Shen Yongmao chose to speak with data: "The second brother wrote that as of last month, the industries directly under the Lin Group had accounted for 6% of the Yangzhou salt industry, 15% of the Suzhou silk weaving industry, and 15% of the Songjiang Prefecture. Eight percent of commercial cotton cloth, 15% of Suzhou Prefecture's money and grain collection business, 30% of Suzhou Prefecture's rice market, and 20% of Suzhou Prefecture's large-scale projects.

And our Lao Shen family has shares in all of the above industries! So, father, how can you say that you are working for nothing at your own expense? "

Shen Shoufu: ""

Has he been in a high position for too long, and has lost touch with reality, unable to see the current situation at the grassroots level?

I heard that Wang Hao, a great scholar of the Hongzhi Dynasty, built three gardens after returning to Suzhou. I can't be worse than Wang Hao, right?

Shen Yongmao added: "By the way, the second brother also said in the letter that the Huqiu Xu family always was not convinced by Lin Jiuyuan because of their special relationship with our Shen family.

In desperation, Lin Jiuyuan burned the front yard of the Humble Administrator's Garden, and they calmed down for a while.

Therefore, the second brother hopes that, father, you will come forward to talk to Xu Taishi, the head of the Xu family in Huqiu, and warn them not to continue seeking death.

Also, Lin Jiuyuan said that the Humble Administrator's Garden was too big, covering an area of ​​200 acres was a waste, and the Xu family simply could not completely repair it in such a large area.

The Xu family in Huqiu should be allowed to allocate 110 acres to local virtuous and promising people to carefully repair the landscaping. "

Shen Shoufu asked a little puzzled: "Why one hundred and ten acres?"

Shen Yongmao replied: "According to my second brother's guess, the largest garden in Suzhou today is the Humble Administrator's Garden, covering 200 acres.

The second largest ones are the original Yilaoyuan and Dongzhuang sites, both with 80 acres of land.

If 110 acres were cut off from the Humble Administrator's Garden, only 90 acres would be left in the original Humble Administrator's Garden, and the 110 acres cut out would be enough to guarantee it would become the new largest garden in Suzhou. "

Shen Shixing was speechless for a long time. His son's ability to speculate on Lin Tailai's thoughts almost caught up with his own ability to speculate on the emperor!

Shen Yongmao then asked: "Can it be done?"

Shen Shoufu thought about the pile of economic data he just heard, gritted his teeth and said, "Do it!"

Shen Shoufu is unambiguous in official matters, and he is also unambiguous in private matters. It is not without reason that he is scolded by the Qingliu forces.

The New Year is approaching, and all nine states are celebrating together. No matter how much people in the capital complain, hate, admire, or miss, they can't affect Lin Tailai's mood in Suzhou for the time being.

This New Year may be the most lively and joyful New Year since Lin Tailai traveled through time.

During the Chinese New Year last year, he was still working hard for the National Examination in the capital.

The second brother Lin also came from Yangzhou, and the four brothers gathered at Lin Mansion in Canglang Pavilion to celebrate the New Year. There are nearly ten people in the next generation.

Lin Guozhong, Father Lin, had been upgraded to Taigong Lin a long time ago. It would not work without upgrading. No one dared to use the title of Father Lin casually anymore.

On New Year's Eve, more than 20 members of the family, including three generations of men, women and children, gathered together in the Zhonglu Hall.

The music returned to the courtyard, the lights came down from the balcony, and the Lin family now had an aura of prosperity.

However, the chat between family members still remained simple. Lin Taigong grabbed Lin Asi and asked:

"Others say you are the Nine-Yuan True Immortal, so I pretend to believe it, but is the double-cropping rice you said accurate?

This year I did not succeed in growing double-cropping rice on the land I was working on at home. "

Lin Tailai replied: "It can definitely be done! It just needs trial and error, and it is possible even if it takes ten or eight years! Dad, you should understand the principle of Shennong tasting a hundred herbs, right?"

Boss Lin came over again and asked, "Why do we need to renovate the new garden again?"

Lin Tailai said proudly: "If our Lin family wants to be the most wealthy family in Suzhou in the future, we should have the best garden in Suzhou!"

Boss Lin didn’t want to talk about the garden, nor did he care whether it was the first wealthy family. Instead, he talked about his sons:

“My eldest brother will be fifteen after the Chinese New Year. He is almost an adult, but he has no fixed character and no ability.

He doesn’t listen to me. I’ll trouble my fourth brother to help discipline him, and he will be afraid of you.”

Lin Tailai suggested: “Let him practice martial arts, take the martial arts exam in the future, and then enter Suzhou Guard?

There is no one with the surname Lin in Suzhou Guard now. According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty, sixteen years old is considered an adult and can be a military officer.”

Boss Lin thought about it and replied: “That’s good, but I’ll trouble my fourth brother to help him.”

At this time, Lin Tailai thought of his sons. The specific marriage has not been finalized yet.

He turned around and saw that Fan and Huang were not making trouble during the Chinese New Year, and were sitting and talking with Secretary Bai and Sun Lianlian.

So he walked over and asked, "Have you two made up your mind? Who will marry into the Shen family? Who will marry into the Xu family of Huating?"

Huang Wu Niang said in embarrassment, "I can't think of which one is better."

What she was afraid of was that after choosing one side, she would be outdone by Fan Niang on the other side in a few years, and then she would lose face.

In fact, Fan Niang's mentality was similar

Lin Tailai said with a headache, "Tomorrow is the New Year, and we have to visit the Shen Mansion to pay New Year's greetings later, so we must make a decision tonight!

If you can't make up your mind, then draw lots! Everything depends on God's will!"

Secretary Bai and Sun Lianlian, who had nothing to do with it, laughed together and said, "This is a good idea!"

Secretary Bai then wrote two paper balls, mixed them together, and asked Huang Wu Niang and Fan Niang to take them.

Everyone chose a paper ball, and everyone opened it to see that the paper ball in Huang Wu Niang's hand was written with "Xu", and the paper ball in Fan Niang's hand was written with "Shen".

No regrets, the dust has settled!

So Lin Tailai said to Madam Fan: "When we go to Shen's house to pay New Year's greetings in two days, you can go with us and take Jiuyi with you!"

The family knew that Lin Tailai would go to the capital again after the New Year, but no one mentioned it during the New Year.

This is what official travel is like. It is impossible to stay at home and with your family all the time.

If they were ordinary wives and concubines, it would be nothing to follow their husbands to other places or the capital to take up their posts. There were many officials who had settled in the capital for many years.

But Lin Tailai's wives and concubines were too extraordinary. Each of them had a big and important business on hand and really couldn't leave Suzhou.

Even if they could give up their business and follow Lin Tailai to take up his post in other places, Lin Tailai would not let others take over those businesses.

So the only one who accompanied Lin Tailai to the capital was Secretary Bai, who could gain freedom of movement without a business.

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